ND SEASON OPENER Scream if it makes you feel better…
September 3, 2011
After an earthquake in Philadelphia last week (5.9 on the Richter), followed by pounding rains and gale-force winds from Hurricane Irene with several tornado residuals, who could have predicted stranger weather ramifications for South Bend in September…until ND Stadium was threatened by cloud-to-ground lightening strikes and the place was evacuated for the first time in its 80-year history?!
Tailgating was robust. The stadium-area lots were half-full by 10:30am and jammed by noon. It was festive with great anticipation for the launch of the 2011 season. I am not sure how many fans lined the new route from The Gug to the Hesburgh Memorial Library and onto the Stadium as the team’s new “Walk Tradition”, but most tailgaters were oblivious or indifferent.
The temperature at kickoff was a steamy 93 degrees…though considerably cooler after two unprecedented delays (2:10 hours and 43 minutes and cloudbursts).
Overall, it felt like 6 hours of Tulsa…with lightening and rain.
Afterwards, fans were shaking their heads for the history and lifelong memories of the day. If you were in attendance, you will always remember:
· ND’s first offensive possession resulting in a 96 yard TD…the other way for USF
- two game stoppages for threatening weather conditions, with
- actual Stadium evacuations of 80,000 fans (orderly, respectful and understanding)
- ND’s 508 yards of offense actually doubling USF…yet still a loss.
We saw the makings of two potentially solid and effective front-lines (Jimmy Clausen must still have nightmares for his freshman year and the O-line). A number of freshman played meaningful minutes. Cierre Wood (haircut on Thursday) rushed for over 100 yards—which is always nice. And Michael Floyd is someone to admire on the field with his dozen catches for over 150 yards and two TD’s.
The team appeared tight. They lacked rhythm or that home field “strut” vs. a visiting underdog. This was unusual following the looseness of the Football Luncheon and the Pep Rally—written, produced and hosted by Dillon Hall.
But fumbles (4) and INT’s (3) always hurt you… more so when your opponent is flawless. And penalties are magnified when you are behind in the score.
It is onward to The Big House in Ann Arbor for more history as ND takes on Mee-chee-gan under the lights.
As Coach Kelly said after the USF game, “Players need to understand what it takes to win football games.” I imagine the implication was the same for coaches.
A season of mistakes, the uncontrollable, and the unforeseen converged for a crazy 2011 season opener at ND Stadium. This was definitely one for the books (and maybe the bookies).
Notre Dame will beat Michigan.
GO IRISH!
Beat Wolverines.
Abe